Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, sadly. Wish I did, but alas, I don't. (sniffs)

Tempting Illusions

Chapter Two

It was almost morbidly humorous the way life threw things at you.

But… nothing could have ever prepared me for this.

I watched as Sasuke struggled against his restraints in his sleep, a frown marred his lips as his dark aristocratic handsome features were twisted in pain. His pale skin was even paler than usual; a light coat of sweat caused by the fever from the venom coated his lean body clad in only black shorts with a white hospital blanket covering half of his bare chest.

Steel cuffs bound his hands and feet to the hospital bed, stretching his limbs to the four corners of the bed as he continued to thrash wildly in his erratic sleep.

I wordlessly walked closer to his bed and scrutinized the awful fang-like marks that were embedded into his shoulder that was not covered by the blanket. The skin around it still showed some discoloration, but I knew I had already gotten nearly all the fatal poison out. I had immediately recognized the signs of a poisoning when I saw Sasuke in the forest, being trained a medic-nin. The signs to my experienced eyes were obvious thanks to Tsunade's training. The labor his breathing had taken, the appearance of his pale, drained state that couldn't have been just caused by blood loss (which had also been critical) from his injury to his right side, and finally the dilation of his onyx eyes had been my last clue, not counting the almost purple hue coming off from his shoulder where the venom was no doubt injected.

Had Orochimaru put this venom in him? The wound almost looked like a snake's fangs, which reminded me of the day Orochimaru gave Sasuke the curse seal in a sense.

I shivered.

I had never treated this kind of poison before; it was strong and took several sessions to extract even the smallest amount from his body. It was difficult since the poison was about to reach his heart and kill him by the time I finally was able to halt its path. It was incredible that Sasuke even lasted that long with all the wounds he had. His tolerance for pain was noting short of extraordinary. Many people would have died by now with this severe toxin coursing through their system, or at least be in a comatose state right now. However, for Sasuke it was like a fitful sleep.

He had woken up twice.

The first time I had not been there, it took a whole team of ANBU and medic-nins to restrain him; I was called into the room by a frantic Shizune. He was delirious as a side effect from the venom, and as soon as I entered the room he had passed out unconscious again. Not to say there wasn't damage to be reported, I saw at least two male medic-nins nursing battered faces and a few limping ANBU as well. It was then that the ANBU demanded the restraints be put on him. No matter how much I protested it they were put on him within the next twenty minutes, the medics backing them up the ANBU's decision. Safety precautions, they said.

"Uchiha never sleep lightly." An older ANBU member had remarked in a stiff voice.

I was the only medic-nin who would work on him and be near him for long periods of time, to make matters worse. Most of the other medics either were scared of the Uchiha or didn't want to help heal a traitor. And so, all of my other patients were forced to take a back seat as I set all my attention on Sasuke.

The other time he woke up was just as bad as the first but thankfully I was the only one there that time. I'll never forget the feral look in his dark eyes as he ripped through one the restraints on his right hand and grabbed my arm. His eyes were unfocused and you could see he wasn't really there; it was only a few seconds later that he passed out once again. That had been two days ago and the fingerprint bruises from his hard hold on my arm weren't getting any lighter.

I sighed and pulled down the blanket on his chest a bit, forcing myself to stay professional as I examined the bandages wrapped tightly around his chest. They would need to be changed again soon. I saw a jagged scar along his left ribcage that I had noticed after my first inspection. Sasuke obviously had been in a hurry stitching it—either that or the medic that healed him needed more lessons.

My eyes trailed back to his shoulder as I inspected that wound again as well. The swelling around the marks had gone down considerably and the hole on his right side was already fully closed as well, right now all I had to work on was extracting the last bit of poison from him and then all the scar tissue. There was still a high chance of his wound on his right side reopening so I would also have to monitor that.

I jumped nearly five feet in the air when I suddenly felt a spike in Sasuke's chakra as he made a jerking thrash in his sleep. Immediately two ANBU slammed the hospital door open in alarm, scanning the small room behind their masks.

There were always two guards, of ANBU stature no less, right outside Sasuke's room 24/7. Another 'just in case.'

When Sasuke wakes there will be a series of trials for all the crimes he's been accused of. I still can't believe how much there were. Even a representative from Mist was going to attend because Sasuke was a suspect in the assassination of the Mizukage. I refused to believe that…not…Sasuke-kun.

I quickly switched my attention to the two male ANBU who was still occupying the room. I glared angrily, "I'm trying to heal my patient and I would appreciate it if you two didn't come barging in every time his chakra rises!"

I heard one of the ANBU sigh as he nudged his partner. I noticed both of the men were rather tall and fit, they both looked opposing in those dark uniforms and masks but then nearly anyone did if they were dressed up that way.

"We meant no harm Haruno-san." The ANBU who sighed said. He had light brown hair, his messy bangs spilling over the front of his bear-like white ANBU mask. I judged he couldn't be more than in his mid twenties. "We are here to ensure you're safety." He said in a clam manner.

"I don't need any protection!" I replied adamantly, putting my hands on my hips as I fully glared at the ANBU.

It was the other ANBU, who I saw had black hair in a pony tail; he was about an inch taller than his partner I noted, turn to sigh. "What you don't seem to understand Haruno-san," he started, "is that Uchiha Sasuke was a missing-nin for five years. He is a first rate criminal that's suspected of numerous murders. It is in your best interest, no matter what your past is with him, to proceed cautiously around him."

No matter what my past is with him? Obviously they were given a look into Sasuke's files and saw that we were in the same cell. Aren't ANBU resourceful…

The brown haired ANBU nodded to me and they made their way to the door. He looked back over to me, "If anything happens, please don't hesitate to alert us." He said as they shut the door behind them, leaving me and an unconscious Sasuke alone once again.

Not an hour later, I heard a loud bang on the door as I started in the chair from my doze next to Sasuke's bed and snapped my gaze over to Sasuke who had just finally settled into a calm sleep.

Sasuke had not awakened by the bang, which was natural in his critical state.

The door opened wide, "You guys can take a break if you want!" I turned around to see Naruto shut the door and walk into the room.

"Sakura-chan!" Naruto grinned good-naturedly as he came up beside me next to the chair.

"Naruto," I said in greeting, letting a small smile appear as I saw his blue eyes stare intensely at Sasuke's form on the bed.

"How is he?" Naruto questioned, shoving his hands deeply into the pockets of his Jounin pants.

My eyes moved back to Sasuke as well, "He should be fine- he's very lucky actually. If we had shown up any later…" I trailed off, my gaze moving back to Naruto as he said nothing. "I nearly have all the poison out of his system; he should be waking up in a few days."

Naruto suddenly switched his attention back to me, his characteristic grin back on his whiskered face, "You look exhausted Sakura-chan!" He exclaimed, changing the subject abruptly, "why don't you take a break for a while? Go home, take a shower, eat or something!"

My eyebrow twitched, "Are you trying to imply something?" I asked in a warning tone, standing up to impose intimidation but it didn't really work since I only came up to below his shoulders.

Naruto scratched the back of his head nervously, "No…! Where did you get an idea like that?" He laughed lightly.

I smiled again at my close friend—Naruto had really been a constant in my life all these years. I owed him a lot, and some of those things I knew I'd never be able to repay. But with Naruto, you never had to. He was without a doubt my best friend.

Naruto was a jounin now and only a year or two away from becoming Hokage. It was amazing to most of the villagers to see that finally the hyperactive ninja would soon become Hokage, to me though; well I had known it would happen ever since I was twelve. My teacher Tsunade was molding him into a brilliant Hokage and even told me a little while ago she was looking forward to drinking her way into retirement.

Also, Naruto had been busy in another area besides his dream ambitions. Hinata and Naruto was an item now for a good two years and going strong. He had finally noticed the shy Hyuga had a crush on him when he was fifteen. Shortly after that, he asked Hinata to the village festival and the next day they were holding hands- a couple and probably the cutest pair in Konoha. Anyone could see how much he adored Hinata, he was so happy it was practically radiating off him whenever he was around the white-eyed girl.

Suddenly, Naruto sighed and stared back intently at me with a worried, strained expression on his rogue, handsome face. "The trials will begin as soon as he wakes up." He stated bluntly, emotions running a mile a minute in his ocean eyes.

I nodded, "Yes." I said softly, not knowing what else to say.

He was silent again for a full minute as he tensed, "I'm not sure… Sasuke will be convicted of…" Naruto trailed off feebly, watching me with a hesitant expression.

I gave him a hard stare, "I'm not stupid, Naruto. I know Sasuke-kun will have to pay for his crimes against Konoha."

I wasn't blind, no matter how much I wished I was in some circumstances. Especially those concerning Sasuke.

Ignorance truly was bliss.

Naruto rubbed the back of his neck tiredly, "I know, I know… I'm just antsy about all the shit that's going to hit the fan when the bastard wakes up."

I smiled at Naruto, even if the relationship between him and Sasuke was more distanced and hostile than ever he would still stick by him. As would I.

Our gaze once again traveled back to the tied up Avenger on the white sheets of hospital bed, a violent contrast to his dark expression that he always seemed to carry with him since he was twelve. No, I thought, my eyes locked to his closed ones. His cold onyx eyes had hardened even more, if that was even possible. The ice that the boy…or man really…held in his black orbs was more than frightening.

But… even is he was forced…

Sasuke-kun was back.

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I yawned as I placed my chart on my desk in the hospital, smoothing out my white lab coat that was required by all medic-nins as I got out of my chair and walked out of my office. I tucked a strand of pink hair behind my ear that fell into my vision.

The hospital was practically empty except for the occasional nurse or medic that would go door to door to various critical patients, checking up on them and making sure their immediate health was satisfactory. There were always medical personnel around all day and night in a hospital, since that was what their job demanded. But right now, as I walked out of my office, I saw that the hallway was silent and quiet, I couldn't see anyone in sight.

It had to be at least three in the morning; I could tell from my sluggish movements that I was clearly drained from the day's events. After my check-up with Sasuke, I was swarmed with work. I had seem three patients in a row, had to miss my late lunch break as a jounin came in with a shattered arm (poor guy had a hard time not making a sound as I healed him and set his bones straight) and then on top of that, Tsunade appeared and dumped a mountain of medical paper work on my desk that dealt with analyzing symptoms of patients and then determining what disease they had and the best way to treat it through chakra sessions or other means.

When I had questioned her teacher why she didn't take care of these medical records, the blond had simply gave me a smile and told me to get it done by tomorrow. Supposedly, these were high profile patients. All twenty of them.

My eyebrow twitched as I remembered her casual, 'Good luck!' and 'I owe you one!' as my damned sensei walked out of my office.

I slumped in exhaustion, rubbing my eyes and trying to wake myself up before I went home and collapsed on my bed.

But first…

My thoughts immediately moved toward what had been distracting me in the back of my mind while I was doing all of that paperwork, making the process even longer of completing it. Sasuke.

Making up my mind, I started walking up the one flight of stairs and down the hallway. I would check up on Sasuke one more time before I went home, I told myself. Just one more time. After that, I'll go home and turn in, maybe I'll heat up some leftovers too.

I reached his doorway within moments and ignoring the studying glares of the two new ANBU sitting on chairs on either side of Sasuke's closed door that had the night shift of watching Sasuke outside his hospital room, I opened the door and walked in wordlessly.

My gaze rose from the floor as I shut the door with a soft click.

Breath hitched in my throat as my eyes widened staring into dark depths that had my heart throbbing in my head in shock.

In my stunned mind I saw that Sasuke was awake; his spiky hair even more messy than usual as his cold, calculating eyes locked on mine startled ones, rooting me to the spot.

His fists were clenched against the binds, his lips in a firm line as he seemed to stare right through me.

He wasn't supposed to be awake yet.

I brushed that thought aside, Sasuke always rebelled against everything anyway. The fact that he shouldn't be even remotely conscious for another two days didn't matter.

My voice caught in my throat as I stared at the person I had been in love with nearly all my life.

When he left Konoha… I had confessed my love to him.

I had offered him everything.

And, I felt a pang enter my heart that was so utterly rejected; all he did was coldly turn away.

What was I suppose to say? How was I supposed to act?

"Sakura." He said a bit hoarsely from not using it in such a long time, but his face showed a calm exterior that sort of unnerved me right now. Why isn't he nervous? He's tied to the bed in what should now be considered enemy territory to him! Seeing him again… my head was spinning at all the feeling that was coursing through me. I didn't know what to say but I forced myself to say something, anything.

"Sasuke-kun," His name that I had spoken into my mind for so long I was finally speaking aloud, "You're awake." I managed weakly, inwardly cursing myself for pointing out the obvious.

Sasuke's impassive inky black eyes that I had missed for so long narrowed at me as the silence stretched into the night.

"Hn. You've changed." He stated in an emotionless, detached tone. I watched as his eyes flickered over the length of my body. He almost seemed to study how much I had changed and I wondered if he was comparing my twelve year old self to right now. After a mere second his naturally penetrating gaze bore into my green eyes again that revealed nothing about what he was thinking about me, if he was at all.

Disappointment rose but I quickly quenched it. Now is not the time…

"How long have I been out?"

Sasuke's cold, demanding question—or statement is what it sounded more like—made me slip back into my professional medic mode. "Five days."

If Sasuke was alarmed at all by this, his stoic expression showed nothing. He was almost like a void, if that's the best why to describe it.

"The restraints," He broke their stare to pull roughly on the steel-like cuffs, "are they extracting chakra?"

I nodded knowing he just needed confirmation and probably already knew, "I protested them but ANBU and the rest of the medical staff insisted, along with Tsunade-sensei said that it had to be done." I said softly, making sure to try to keep my voice steady and clear.

"Sensei, you say? So it seems you are a medic now." He said in his usual monotone.

"Yes." I looked away for a moment, and then my eyes trailed back up to meet his eyes. It was strange. A part of me wanted to hug him, never let him go and cling to him forever… but another side just wanted to stand and stare…as if scared out of my mind that he wasn't really there.

That he was just an illusion that would fade away as soon as I touched him.

"Do you remember anything that happened while you fighting the fever?" I questioned lightly, almost shifting nervously under his dark stare. Even though I was a good few feet away and looking down at him, it felt like it was reversed. Like Sasuke's hardened fierce eyes was looking down at me instead of the other way around.

His brows knitted together slightly by only a fraction. After a moment I saw his eyes dart to my shoulder and back.

"Only a little." Was all he said.

But that was all I expected. No words of gratitude for saving his life, no questions about how I had been all these years, or what had happened to Naruto and Kakashi. There was none of that with Sasuke.

His eyes released me from their heavy hold as he turned to stare expressionlessly at the ceiling.

"As for your medical condition, I nearly have all the poison out of your system. That toxin was highly fatal and would have killed you in less than ten minutes if you hadn't passed out, Sasuke-kun." He said nothing as I continued mindlessly, "You also suffered chakra exhaustion, as well as the severe injury on your right side that I have already healed- I just have to make sure it does not reopen with a few more chakra sessions. Undoubtedly, you must feel a strain on your muscles as well as weakness in joints, especially in the arms and legs. You won't be able to sit up for a while either without feeling pain. You're very lucky," I said, "if that hole had been made any deeper… or a little more to the right…" I stopped myself, closing my eyes and taking a deep breath to calm my storm of emotions. It was dangerously close to his internal organs.

As I stared at his still form, I wondered what he was thinking for not the first time. Is he scared? No, probably not. But, he might be thinking of a way to escape, possibly. But I knew that it was impossible, no matter how early he woke. With his injuries he wouldn't be able to move that freely for a while. Also, with all the guards that he no doubt sensed outside and the chakra restraints, he was more than imprisoned inside.

He must know what will happen to him now. All students in the Academy were taught in a calculated scaring manner what future awaited a shinobi who betrayed his or her village.

But it looked like this knowledge; the fact that he might be jailed or worse didn't seem to faze Sasuke in the least.

Even so, I felt the need to comfort him… or maybe myself.

"Um, don't worry Sasuke-kun," I said in a forced calmness as he continued to stare away from me, "I know Kakashi-sensei is talking to Tsunade-sensei about your case. I know he won't allow you to be jailed…or…" I trailed off, a cold chill running down my spine as I bit my lip and stared at the ground and thought about an ANBU's boast of execution.

"You shouldn't be concerned." Sasuke growled icily.

My eyes shut on their own volition, "I'm still your friend, Sasuke-kun." I forced my eyes open as I stared back into his black orbs that were chillingly empty of any emotion. "I will always be on your side, Naruto as well." I added, whispering now but I knew he heard every word.

He scoffed a bored and annoyed sound that seemed so familiar to my ears. "Keep your little ideals to yourself Sakura." His dark eyes cut across back to hers, "I want no part in it."

Silence ensued as a part of me that I had tried so hard to bandage and heal shattered into a million pieces.

I turned around, not wanting Sasuke to see the tears leak from my eyes. "I have to report to Tsunade-sensei that you've woken up. I'll be back later to check up on your wounds and I'll see what I can do about limiting the amount of chakra the restraints are taking from you even though it's probably futile. I'll send up food later as well, for now I advise that you rest. Your trials will begin soon now that you've awakened." I said in a dry voice that I tried to conceal my hurt under.

I walked to the door in a tense state, my mind still reeling from what he had said.

"Hold on, Sakura." I halt immediately with my hand already enclosed on the doorknob as I slightly turned towards him. His cold glare flashes briefly in a dark anger that made my voice lodge in my throat as it fixed on me. "Don't interfere in one of my fights again Sakura… or else."

I stared at him, breaking his almost brutal gaze I said nothing as I opened the door, his glare all the while burning on my back until I had shut the door.

A/N:

Sorry for this chapter taking so long to update- really it probably won't happen again. Usually I update much quicker than that, so I am sorry SasuSaku fans. Oh and I didn't realize until I was done this chapter that it was all in Sakura's POV. Next time there will be an abundance of Sasuke POV. Promise.

So anyhoo…tell me was anyone having any hentai thoughts with poor Sasuke-kun tied to the bed like that? Ehehehehe… (Gets weird stares) hey…! Don't act like you weren't thinking it too!

"……………"

Okay, fine lolz.

It also looks like a lot of Forbidden Itsumo fans are reading this too, that's great! Thank you everyone for giving this fanfic a try and I hope you continue to read 'cause it'll only get more interesting. Mawhahaha!

(clears throat) Anyway, please review b/c you know it really does help the writer! I'll update this really soon!

-hitodama